where do i put the sticker to deflect the headlight?

robnye

we are going to france on holiday in a months time,
we have a vauxhall zafira and i know i need to put some deflector stickers onto the headlights

I have the necessary stickers, but for the life of me i cannot work out where to place them....... i have checked on line, in my owners manual, on the sticker packaging..... but they all show different places...

can anyone help...? (and save me from getting stopped/fined by the local French constabulary!)


many thanks
rob

charmed-imsure

all you need do is make sure the aim of the headlight won't dazzle the oncoming vehicle. Lights should normally point toward to hedge/pavement on the side of the road you're driving on... So for French travel, I'd place the stickers on the right of the light as you look at it.

robnye

so im guessing the shape of the sticker is like triangle at one end and a circle at the other,

the circle should be over the centre of the light beam and the triangle part to the right hand side

(an old car of mine - ford sierra actually had the area marked out to cover)

Inactive

Take your car in to a garage that carries out MOT's, they will be able to fit them accurately using their beam testing equipment, it isn't as easy as it seems with new type headlights on modern vehicles.

Wig

If you are not driving at night - don't bother.

If you are or want to be prepared for all events.

Point your car at a flat white wall, about 1 - 2 metres away, turn on the headlamps, You should see a pattern of light like this, except yours will be reversed because this is a USA webpage.
http://www.sandsmuseum.com/cars/elise/experience/maintenance/adjustheadlamps/adjustheadlamps.html

Now use a piece of cardboard from cornflakes packet, roughly the same size as your sticker. move the cardboard around on the headlamps until you have blacked out the part of the beam which goes up to the left. You want to have a flat horizontal line for both headlamps, above the line it is to be darkness.

When you have found the correct position mark the headlamp lens with a pencil, now you know where to put your sticker. You could make 2 cardboard templates and stick the first in position with tape, while you work on the second lamp.

You could have saved some money and just used black electrical insulation tape, stuck on the lens in strips to form the same pattern.

Don't forget a spare set of bulbs for the car.

vikingaero

Do you have the new Zafira or the old Zafira?

With the old Zafira you could buy some plastic headlamp covers which have the blackout etched on them. If you want I could fit mine and take pictures for you to make a template with electrical tape.

Don't forget to pack hi-viz vests in the passenger compartment.

robnye

vikingaero wrote: »

Do you have the new Zafira or the old Zafira?

its an 'X' reg - ie 2001,

With the old Zafira you could buy some plastic headlamp covers which have the blackout etched on them. If you want I could fit mine and take pictures for you to make a template with electrical tape.

excellent idea, fool proof way of sorting it (especially for me :rotfl)

Don't forget to pack hi-viz vests in the passenger compartment.

planning to get a couple, i know in spain you are supposed to have them for every person in the car, but in france its not as rigid.

also got the spare bulbs kit and triangle

Wig

Don't legally need the triangle if the car has hazard warning lamps for France anyway - not sure about Spain. Useful bit of kit though nonetheless.

Inactive

Wig wrote: »

Don't legally need the triangle if the car has hazard warning lamps for France anyway - not sure about Spain. Useful bit of kit though nonetheless.

You need 2 in Spain, as well as High Viz jackets that can be reached from the drivers seat, as well as a spare set of specs if worn.

Not forgetting that all driver/vehicle documents have to be carried with you in Spain.

robnye

Inactive wrote: »

You need 2 in Spain, as well as High Viz jackets that can be reached from the drivers seat, as well as a spare set of specs if worn.

Not forgetting that all driver/vehicle documents have to be carried with you in Spain.

and dont forget the kitchen sink...... lol

Inactive

robnye wrote: »

and dont forget the kitchen sink...... lol

True, but they are mainly low cost items that are of real benefit, we in the UK are quite backwards with things like this.